OSU changing football scheduling philosophy

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said today that the establishment of a four-team college football playoff starting in 2014 has caused the Buckeyes to change their scheduling philosophy.

Ohio State’s schedule is set through 2016. After that, Smith said, the Buckeyes will strive to add two top-40 programs per season in addition to the marquee nationally elite program OSU has traditionally played.

“Obviously, with the playoff system, we feel and think that non-conference strength-of-schedule is going to be a factor in who gets in the final four,” Smith told the Dispatch this afternoon. “So we’re changing our philosophy in scheduling.”

A decrease in the number of Mid-American opponents, typically from Ohio, that the Buckeyes will play is among the consequences of the philosophy change.

Smith said Urban Meyer is supportive of the change and submitted a list of schools he’d like to consider playing.

Smith said OSU is in talks with potential opponents and hopes to have something to announce within a couple of weeks.

Smith said the Buckeyes will still need to play seven home games per year to generate the revenue required to run the 36 athletic programs OSU funds. But Smith is open to play home-and-home series against one of those top-40 programs and not just against the nationally elite opponent.